Train-service coupling.



A. J. CAMPBELL.

TRAIN SERVICE COUPLING.

APPLICATIONIILED IAN-25,1915.

1,169A59. Patented Jan; 25, 1916.

UNTTE ALBERT J. GAMFBELL, OF MARION, IOTR A.

TRAIN-SERVICE COUPLING.

Application filed January 25, 1915.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marion, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Train-Service Couplings;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the air-brake service of railway trains; andthe object of the invention is to utilize such service for electricalcommunication from end to end of the train, the air-hose serving as acarrier for the electrical conductor, and the coupling-heads beingadapted to automatically close the electrical circuit from car to car asthe air-hose is coupled.

More specifically, the invention relates to improved means for effectingthe electrical contacts at the coupling heads, whereby such contacts maybe made without the use of springs or other breakable or complicatedapparatus; to so construct the apparatus that it may be applied, atslight cost, to the coupling-heads in general use, and to provide forthe use of a single conducting wire, instead of plural wires, tae earthbeing used for a part of the circuit.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the application of the invention toa pair of coupling-heads in locked position. Fig. 2 is a side viewshowing one of the heads separated from the other, and with theconductor disposed inside instead of outside the air-tube. Fig. 3 is aview of the other coupling head, as seen from below Fig. l, thesectional part of the figure being in the plane of the line a b, andshowing the conducting wire embedded in the airtube wall. Fig. at is anend view or" the head shown in Fig. 3, the sectional part of the figurebeing in the planes of 0 d and e f.

Referring to the drawing, 1 denotes the air-hose used in connection withthe ordinary air-brake on railway trains. To this hose, at each end, isconnected a couplinghead 2, having a central gasket 3 and clutch members4: and 5 adapted for mutually interlocking action as shown, and in amanner so familiar as to require no explanation.

On or in the tube as a carrier is mounted an electrical conducting wire6. This is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1915.

Serial No. 4,182.

shown mounted in various ways. In Fig. 1 it is coiled spirally about thetube, insulated wire being of course used in such a case. In Fig. 2 thewire is trained inside the tube, which if of ubber or the like goodinsulator, might serve to insulate bare wire, so far, at least, as itextends inside the tube. Or, as shown in Fig. 3, the bare wire might beembedded in the tube-wall, and so insulated. However, where the wirecomes outside the tube, as would be most convenient in connccting withthe coupling-heads, it should be insulated.

At the end of each conductor is a terminal of some non-rusting material,preferably copper. One or these is attached to the inside of theclutch-member 4: and another to the inner side of the clutch-member 5.The double terminal connects electrically by a short branch-wire 7,which may be held in place by a. clip 8. The terminals are in practicecomparatively thin and broad plates of copper, and for convenience ofattachment to the clutch-members, are provided with one or more studs.Thus, for example, the terminal 9 has a single stud 1O fastened byriveting in a hole drilled in the clutch-member. To the studs issuitably connected, as by soldering, or the like, the end of the mainconductor 6. The other terminal 11 may have two similar, studs 12,riveted in the same way to the clutch-member 5, and similarly connectingwith the branch conductor 7. When the heads are coupled these oppositelydisposed terminals are respectively brought face to face, and the samepressure which serves to hold the gaskets in air-tight connectionsserves also to hold the terminals in close electrical contact. It is tobe noted also that the motion by which the heads are coupled, a turningmotion concentric to the gaskets, necessarily causes the opposingterminals to slide on each other, and this rubbing action will alwayskeep them bright enough for good electrical contact.

In devising this apparatus the inventor has sought to avoid conditionswhich would bar the adoption by railroad companies of a labor-saving andconvenient device of this nature. He has considered it to be reasonablycertain that an air-brake coupling almost universally in use would notbe thrown away to make room for another designed especially for air andelectrical connection. He has also regarded it as, im-

probable that the present type of coupling would be used for this addedpurpose if its use involved a considerable reconstruction, or expensivefitting or changing of any sort. He has also aimed to eliminate springs,or other parts likely to break or get out of order. The device hereindescribed is believed to embody, in a simple and durable form, what willavoid the objections noted. To apply the parts shown in Fig. 2, the onlymachine work involved is the drilling of three small holes and theriveting of three studs. If wired as shown in Fig. 1 the operation isvery simple and easily performed, with the drilling and tapping of anadditional hole for the clip. The clip is desirable, but notindispensible.

With a train fully equipped in this manner the conductor is in instantand direct communication with the engineer, and is thus able to transmitorders without loss of time and without danger.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a signaling device of the character specified, an air-brake hosein several sections, each section having at each end. a coupling-headwith complemental clutch members, an electrical conductor in eachsection extending from one coupling-head to the other and branched ateach end, an electrical terminal for each branch, one terminal securedto theinner face of one clutch member and the other terminal at the sameend secured to the outer face of the other clutch member, the terminalson coacting clutch members being located to contact when companion headsare interlocked.

2. In a signaling device of the character specified, an air-brake hosein several sections, each section having at each end a coupling-headwith complemental clutch members, an electrical conductor in eachsection extending from one coupling-head to the other and branched ateach end, an electrical terminal for each branch, one terminal securedto the inner face of one clutch member and the other terminal at thesame end secured to the outer face of the other clutch member, theterminals 'on coacting clutch members being located to contact when companion heads are interlocked, and clips adapted to hold said electricalconductors in position on said heads.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT J. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

FRANK FILIP, J. D. BAGLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

